USA Rewind

*Central back Oguchi Onyewu tore the patella tendon in his left knee and will be sidelined at least three or four months. If all goes well, he would return in February, but with the AC Milan lineup difficult to crack even under the best circumstances, perhaps a rehab loan will be in order? "He's young, he's healthy, our doctors are good, and he's someone, for sure, is going to get back," Coach Bob Bradley said. "Nonetheless, it is another setback for us."

*This match marked the fifth time in 10 final-round qualifiers -- and the fourth in the past six games -- that the USA came from behind to earn points. Like against Costa Rica at RFK, they answered a two-goal deficit to steal a tie at El Salvador. They also shook off one-goal deficits to beat Honduras at home and on the road, and to defeat El Salvador at home. (They surrendered the lead in a defeat once -- at Mexico.)

*Looking ahead to the draw in Cape Town on Dec. 4, where the eight top seeds will be based on the previous three World Cups and FIFA rankings, "I think it will be very hard for us to get seeded -- not impossible," USSF President Sunil Gulati said. "With Argentina qualifying, I think it makes it a little bit harder. If France were to qualify, then depending on the criteria used, we've been pushing hard that it should be based on the last official FIFA tournament, which would be the Confederations Cup." [laughter]

*After the respectful reception the Americans received in Honduras last weekend, "our guys aren't disappointed with who is going to Montevideo," Gulati said, referring to the Catrachos finishing third and Costa Rica having to play Uruguay in a two-leg playoff next month. When is Jonathan Bornstein Day in Tegucigalpa?

*Besides the friendly at Denmark on Nov. 18, the USSF is looking at a possible match four days earlier in Europe. A deal could be finalized next week.

*Bradley visited Charlie Davies in the hospital Wednesday morning and observed a doctor testing Davies' responses. The doctor "is a real personality. I could hear him say, 'Charles, can you open your eyes?' And sure enough, he did. When [the doctor] was done and he talked to the family, he said the responses continued to be good and that, in some cases, the ones that aren't there yet have more to do with the fact that there is still a lot of medication to keep him comfortable."

Well -- in this case, Gooch will be under the knife and scope. They won't need an MRI since they'll have an inside look -- but if it's a complete rupture of the patella tendon, you can see that just by looking at the knee from the outside.

If anyone's interested, I took some snaps. Cell phone photos, but not so bad. I wish the shot of the second goal came out -- alas, it was too blurry to post, but my timing would have been perfect.

It's good that we can rely on some of our players to be heroes for a day.

It's bad that we need some of our players to become heroes.

You can build neither tactics nor strategy on that.

We had very good opportunities to score before the first goal and many times since. Unfortunately, what I said above is truth: we don't have enough class. On this level heart helps, on higher level - it won't be enough.

I'm a big fan of Jose Torres and thought he did well overall last night ... but isn't he to blame for the Oneyuwu injury? His dreadful corner kick forced Gooch to backpedal awkwardly and slip on the wet turn, causing the injury. If the corner was on target, Gooch would have been stationary or running towards the ball ...

Any details on what caused the CR coach to get thrown out? From TV I thought I saw that a sub was coming in for #6 and that was already on the 4th official's board and then #5 got hurt and maybe the coach wanted to switch who was coming out. Ultimately, it appeared the sub did come in for #5. But do we have any comments from the officials or anyone else on what happened there?

Oh, and congrats to the USMNT! I understand how the seeds work, but if a country finishes last in their automatic qualifying round (e.g., ARG), it seems like they shouldn't get a seed.

I understand how the seeds work, but if a country finishes last in their automatic qualifying round (e.g., ARG), it seems like they shouldn't get a seed.

Posted by: Dougmacintyre | October 15, 2009 7:49 AM |
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If you understand how the seeds work, then you know everything FIFA does is based on how much money it will bring in, not the fairness of a decision or its real benefit to competition. FIFA needs Argentina in the tournament, and they need it to stay in as long as possible to maximize revenue. The US? Feh, not so much. So, guess who gets the seed?

Will the real Conor Casey please stand up? That shank at 8:59 ruined what would have been a magical moment, and that wasn't even his worst moment. It also set the tone for an evening of atrocious finishing—Donovan, Altidore, Rogers.

Even though he was beaten badly on the second goal, Bornstein looked pretty good even before his goal. But Cherundolo was better. I'd still like to see Dolo starting with Spector on the left. Maybe Castillo settles that conversation.

And with Torres, Feilhaber and Holden showing well, it'll be a crowded midfield
when Jermaine Jones shows up.

Anyway, I knew all along they'd come back somehow. They didn't want to spoil their undefeated record when I'm at a game. A home tie never felt so much like a win.

Moving forward, we need to get some games in place and start acclimating some of the replacements. For Gooch, it seems like we have a bit of depthM Whether Demerit comes back or Goodson or Marshall are ready, we have somebody to fill in. That definitely moves Boca back into the middle and we have to decide on Bornstein on left or Spector on left.
Up front, we have a bigger problem because nobody possess what Davies was starting to bring to the matches. I haven't seen Cooper do anything for the National Team yet so I'm not sold on him. I'll throw out a couple of names: Cunningham and Wolf. Do we give Cunningham a couple of games to see what he can do with Altidore? It may be worth it. Wolf is playing okay and may be able to be the pest that Davies has been for other team's defenses.

Simoes, who coached Jamaica at the 1998 World Cup finals, missed the decisive final minutes after he was sent off for arguing with the referee and the fourth official and had to be escorted from the bench by stadium security.

The Brazilian said he had argued with the referee about a mix-up when the wrong number was produced for a substitution but the official initially refused to accept the change of number.

"I had to tell him 'please change that' it was a mistake but he didn't accept that. It was unfortunate."

The USA-Costa Rica game yesterday was one of the most emotional and exciting games I have seen in a long time. I wonder how many other teams who are already qualified would have put as much effort as the US did last night.

Sitting in the stadium it looked like the real dispute was the referee directing the "injured" CR player off the field for a period and Simoes then trying to change the substitution (that had been standing there for awhile) to that player (I think it was #5). The referees properly caught Simoes in a total BS move. Between their wasting time and the Simoes ejection, they essentially gave us the extra time we needed.

When Bradley and others said that they wanted to lock up WC qualifying in Honduras, because anything can happen if it goes down to the last game, they were SOOOOO right.

If we can schedule several friendlies in the months before Gooch is back, that will tell us who else might be able to play at this level, and will tell us whether Cooper should take Davies place instead of Casey.

Casey was easily defended most of last night by the smaller but quicker Tico defenders, it seemed to me, and that doesn't give me much confidence about him for the WC.

Didn't get to see much of Cooper, but the little I saw made me think he's quicker and faster and just as much of a target man than Casey.

With all our injuries, we really need to see how some others do. Missing Davies and Gooch and DeMerit, we really need to explore options in some depth.

Yeah - Croatia are a very talented squad (who were hot sh*t going into Euro 2008) - and now they don't even get a crack at the playoffs.

Tough luck for Sweden though as well. They lost two matches (both to fierce rivals Denmark) and they're done. I'll just go ahead and sound like a total Eurosnob, but I'd argue that UEFA Group 1 (Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, Hungary, Albania, Malta) was a tougher qualifying group than CONCACAF's hex. And we got 3 + playoff and they got 1 + playoff.

Whatever the comparisons - I'm just happy the US booked their ticket on Saturday and won the group last night! Fun match to watch in person.

Reminds me (again) of the nice post-match chat that Bob Bradley had with Russell Latapy that ESPN caught with their mics last month. Bradley and Latapy exchanged compliments about the teams then Bradley said something to the effect of "hey, take out one of those big boys for us" (Mexico, CR, etc). Latapy gave him a nod. Thanks Russell - very pleased to finish above Mexico!

Right now, I'd expect Cunningham to get a look in next month's Europe friendlies (unless Dallas is still playing). If not him, then maybe Jemal Johnson gets a call, or Eddie Johnson? There's got to be some concern about who will play in defense. Maybe Orozco gets a call, or even Omar Gonzalez? Castillo, of course, if he's healthy. Any Europe-based candidates? I wouldn't want to see Parkhurst get another chance. Perhaps Jay Needham gets a look, or Hunter Freeman?

I was actually fine with Costa Rica going through when they were two nil up. That second goal was a rocket - I thought, "good for them". But I really have little pity for a team that can't see out a win like men. Silly time wasting, manager and assistant sent off for sub tactics. And then look what happens - they added time to their own match and it bit them in the a$$ in the 95th minute! Not to mention their useless approach to the second half. If you're going to be negative and put ten men behind the ball, at least do it properly.

Let's not forget Spector can also play CB (has said in the past it is his preferred position). Maybe BB should take a look at him there during a friendly as well as Castillo at LB. Cherundolo looked good at RB - reminding us why he used to be a lock there. The goal was great, but otherwise Bornstein was regularly beaten and handing the ball to CR.

If neither Holden not Rogers is starting by June, they look like locks as super subs, and Torres really impressed me this time. Bradley also had a good game - stayed cool, made no crazy slide tackles even on the wet surface. Feilhaber only OK from where I sat.

Great game, great atmosphere, section 309 didn't seem like it was on the "quiet" side. Lot's of 9's during the tribute around us, standing most of the game, USA chants - just missing the songs, smoke and heavier beer consumption.

Maybe Deuce will realize that his MF spot is open for competition and will be motivated to play harder for the US. OTOH, maybe Bradley will move him into Davies' F slot for the full 90, rather than the last 15.

I think it is karma for the way Costa Rica treats US players when they play in San Jose, throwing stuff at them. It was so sweet to see their dreams snuffed out in stoppage time. The US ripped Costa Rica's hearts out of their chests and showed them to them.

some up top said it, but a home tie never felt so rewarding. i felt pretty good for the Ticos supporters when the scored that 2nd goal, you could tell they knew they were on the doorstep of SA2010. but the timewasting, and chanting during Gooch's obviously serious injury really ticked me off. and in the end, the time wasting was what undid 18 months of effort. you'd think some of these teams would learn...

"I'm very angry because once again the national teams take our players and we have to pay the consequences of injuries," Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani was quoted as saying by Italian media on Thursday.

"We demand compensation from the American Federation because we cannot pay the salary of a player who cannot play for six months."

"I'm very angry because once again the national teams take our players and we have to pay the consequences of injuries," Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani was quoted as saying by Italian media on Thursday.

"We demand compensation from the American Federation because we cannot pay the salary of a player who cannot play for six months."

Posted by: Hokienautic | October 15, 2009 11:32 AM

It's OK to pay him to sit on the bench, but not while he's rehabbing? F*ck them. Good luck Gooch - and get the hell out of that corrupt, joke of a league. I guess that's what we can expect from Don Pervert Berlusconi's club.

jofij, it would be odd to thank Torres for the bad kick that would injure Onyewu that would "add" the most extra time to a match, time which was needed to score the group winning goal, right?

If you want to assign blame, consider this. Who did Ruiz outpace to get around for his first goal? Onyewu. Who failed to close on Ruiz allowing him a clear strike for his second goal? Onyewu. (Look at the replays above.)

So if you think Torres is at fault for getting Onyewu injured... you're wrong. You should blame him for not doing it sooner! But that would be a bit harsh, no?

Someone above pinned the blame on Bernstein for Ruiz's second goal. But watch the replay. Bornstein was marking another Tico on the outside. Bradley was shadowing Ruiz. Bradley just gave up on the play. If you're going to pin the blame on anyone for that one, it's Bradley.

Rogers' crosses were excellent, far more I think than Holden's, and I'm not just saying because of his assist on Bornstein's goal. So maybe, as someone suggested, Dempsey should play forward when he returns, let Rogers take a spell at right middie in upcoming friendlies, see if Rogers had a complete game.

And Spector in the center....nice suggestion, his relative lack of speed is less of a liability there, and his passing is quite good for a defender.

If the US had lost last night, Cherundolo would have been one of my two MVP choices for the US (Altidore the other).

Dolo did everything Bornstein did not -- didn't get stripped, didn't get beaten, and fed the ball to people in good positions (including for several of Rogers' dangerous crosses). That's only a tad harsh on Bornstein, who got stripped, and occasionally beaten, but who did feed Donovan pretty well on occasion.

The more I think about it, the more I would like Dempsey to take Casey's spot, unless somebody else really steps up at forward.